RATIONAL SCIENCE FOR RATIONAL POLICY. GEOLOGY SERVING SOCIETY THROUGH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

To meet the needs of human society for materials, water, and energy, yet maintain environmental quality, we must understand the ethics of our profession, the character and attributes of our science, and the ways to communicate these concepts to decision-makers. We have sustainability problems in water and energy, while natural hazards plague the people.

We argue among ourselves about the environmental impact of resource extraction and use, but we have not helped our political leaders understand and accept the rational science that must determine our environmental priorities. Intellectually we understand that sustaining energy for human civilization and water for human life is the most pressing issue facing us as earth scientists, but we have not addressed the problem of communicating the unique insights of the community of earth scientists to our decision makers.

The fault lies with the profession, not the people. As a profession we do not meet the challenge or seize the opportunities in public policy discussions and political debates. Often we do not recognize community concerns; perhaps because we have been preoccupied with supplying resources to society or perhaps out of reluctance to become involved in sometimes bitter controversy. Most likely, however, we have not become involved because our opinions have not been sought and we lack the skills to make our scientific points in a non-technical, public setting.

There are ways for earth scientists to communicate the essence of earth science to a public clamoring for reliable information from credible experts. If we join together and take the appropriate action we can insure that rational science becomes the basis for public policy.